Corpse viewing cover



Oct. 9, 1951 M MEJIA 2,570,361

CORPSE VIEWING COVER 7 Filed 061;. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fly. 1.

Inventor Manuel Rubia Mejia B fizz-Wm Oct. 9, 1951 R, MEJlA 2,570,361

CORPSE VIEWING COVER Filed 001',- 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 Fig.2.

Inventor Mandel Rubia Mejia 9 1 nip EM Patented Oct. 9,

r UNITED S'I'NI'IEIS- PATENT OFFICE CQRPSE VIEWING COVER Manuel ltubio ama, P. R.

Application October 3, 1947;Serial No. 777,621

3 Claims. (01. 2 7-1) invention appertains to novel and useful and :operatively connected .with a shaft, the

shaftbeing supported for rotation by the base of the frame and projecting through a suitable opening in the transparent cover whereby operationof the arcuate struts may be efieoted from the outside of the transparent cover.

Other objects andfeatures of novelty will become apparent to those skilled inthe art, in following the description of the preferred forms of the present invention, illustrated. in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the mortuary equipment forming the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the actuating means utilized for the purpose of adjusting the closure;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the details of construction shown in Figure 3,

showing the same in a second operative position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the invention shown in Figure 3 and taken on the line 5-5' and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a detail of construction utilized in conjunction with securing the closure to the slab, and;

Figure 7 is a modification of a selected element of the invention.

This invention has been conceived and developed for the purpose of providing an improved mortuary apparatus for use in protecting and reviewing corpses. A specially provided slab is provided as a recipient of a suitable foundation whereon the corpse is positioned. A closure having feasibly adjustable arcuate struts for reviewing a portion of the corpse is provided on the said slab. Then, a cover of transparent material is provided over the said closure and means for actuating the arcuate struts of the closure extends through this last mentioned cover.

interposed. between the a 2 A slab indicated at In is provided of any suitable material and a peripheral recess or flange I2 extends therearound; Seated on the said slab I0 is closure means for covering and protecting a corpse. This closure means is preferably composed of a base or frame [4 which may be bade of any suitable material, preferably metallic. Arcuate struts l6 and I8 respec-- tively are secured to the base portion" of the frame, while arcuate struts 20, 22 and 24 respectively are pivotally connected with the base portion M.

A- suitable flexible shroud 26 is suitably secured to the said frame, as by folding the mar--; ginal edges over selected elements of the said frame and stitching the said shroud in place.

A shaft 28 extends through a suitable bracket 30 which is rigidly secured to the base portion of the frame I4. Also securedto the said shaft 28 is a pair of arms 32 and 34 respectively.

These arms 32 and 34 are pivotally connected with the terminal portions of the arcuate struts 2D and 22. A spring 36 extends across the said terminal portion of the arcuate struts 20 and 22 and is secured at the pivot pins associatedtherewith. This spring normally biases the arcuate struts 20 and 22 to the selected, closed position. Referring to Figures 3 and 4 it will be noted that the spring retains the arcuate struts 20 and 22 in the closed position however, due to the nature of the structure described above, when the arcuate struts 22 and 20 are forced in the open position, they may be retained at this open position by means of friction in the bearings and also by the positioning of the said terminal portions. It is noted that the said terminal portions are curved slightly to form crank ends and as the arcuate struts are forced to an open position, the component of force exerted by the spring for returning the said arcuate struts to the closed position diminishes and finally reaches a point which is substantially zero due to the angularity of the said extension.

It is quite apparent from an inspection of the Figures 3 and 4 that the pivoted or hinged arcuate strut 24 is also rigidly secured to the said shaft 28 by means of a pin or the like. It is readily apparent also that upon rotation of the shaft 28, the arcuate strut 24 will be moved to the desired opening or closing positions. A convenient handle 38 is secured to the said shaft 28 for actuation purposes. A cover 40 is detachably positioned on the said slab l0, engaging the recess or flange I 2, aforementioned. An

the recess-12, the marginal edges of the-said cover frictionally engaging the confines of the said recess.

It is noted at this point that the said-cover 40 may be substituted by a cover 44 which" differs in configuration from the above described.

member 40. Also, this elementor, cover, 44 may be utilized in lieu of the internal (relative to the cover 40) closure member.

In retaining the said closure member immovable, relative to the said slab l0, recesses 48 may besupplied at advantageous positions in the shroud 26 and clips 56 fixed to the lower frame member I4. These, clips may obviously be, secured to the said slab H] by any suitable means such as screws 52 or the like.

Of course, the extremities of the pivotally mounted arcuate struts 20, Hand 24 wh-ich are opposite those terminal portions described above, may be disposed on a suitable stub shaft which is journalled in a bracket, identical to that bracket 30 described above.

While there has been described and illustrated but preferred forms of the invention, it is apparentthat variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. Ina mortuary apparatus, a slab and a transparent cover disposed on saidslab, said transparent cover having an opening in :one side thereof, a closure arranged to form a downwardly opening cavity and disposed on said slab and interposed between said cover and said isla-b, said closure including a frame having abase and a plurality of arcuate struts operatively con nected therewith, two of said struts being movable with respect to each other and having crank ends, means supporting said movable struts on said base for pivotal movement and including arms pivoted to said crank ends, a shaft mounted for rotation on said base and having one of said arms fixed thereto and the other of said arms rotatively disposed thereon, a spring reacting on-the ends of said movable struts and urging said movable struts together in the closed position and opposing the operation of said arms and said shaft, and said shaft being passed through the. opening in said transparent cover whereby operation of said shaft may be efiected from' the outside of said cover.

2. The combination of claim 1 and said closure also including a flexible shroud which is secured tothe base and said struts, said shroud being made of two pieces one of which is secured to; one" of said arcuate movable struts and-the other of which is secured to an adjacent ar i:

cured to one of said arcuate movable struts aridthe other of which is secured to an adjacent ar cuate movable strut,.said slab being fiat and; having a peripheral recess. around the edgesthereof, and said transparent cover being dis-' posed in said recess to thereby hold said cover? on said slab.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 317,703 Baker'et al. May 12, I885 2,159,144

MANUEL RUBIO MEJl IAL Fletcher May 23, 1939" 

